| 释义 |
constipation|kɒnstɪˈpeɪʃən|
[a. F. constipation, or ad. L. constīpātiōn-em, n. of action or state f. constīpāre to constipate.]
†1. The action of packing or pressing closely together; the condition of being so compressed; condensation, compression. Obs.
1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1337 Condensation, and constipation depresseth and driveth it [matter] downeward to the middle. 1692Bentley Boyle Lect. vii. 239 A pretty close Constipation and mutual Contact of its Particles. 1713Derham Phys. Theol. i. iii. N a (R.), In spring when the earth and waters are loosed from the brumal constipations, the vapours arise in great plenty.
2. Med.
†a. Contraction or constriction of organic tissues, the veins, etc. Obs.
c1400Lanfranc's Cyrurg. 119 Euel accidentis..as constipacioun of þe wombe, or ellis þe flix of þe wombe. 1533Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) 61 a, It dissolveth the constipations or stoppinges made of all places, if the places be scarified. 1612Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 384 Schirrous hardnesse and constipation of the Veines. a1660Hammond Serm. Wks. 1684 IV. 577 That the laxum and strictum, the immoderate dissolution or constipation were the principles and originals of all diseases.
b. spec. Confinement of the bowels: a state of the bowels in which the evacuations are obstructed or stopped; costiveness.
1549Compl. Scot. vi. 67 I sau betis, that is gude contrar constipatione. 1702J. Purcell Cholick (1714) 117 When the Pain of the Cholick..is accompany'd with a great Heat, violent Constipation, Vomiting. 1806Weaver in Med. Jrnl. XV. 325 Case of Constipation of the Bowels, removed by External Friction. 1866A. Flint Princ. Med. (1880) 532 The terms constipation and costiveness are commonly used as synonyms, denoting insufficiency of evacuations from the bowels.
c. fig.
1917A. Huxley Let. 30 Sept. (1969) 136 That somewhat unhinged letter..was..due to nothing in particular, but exactly coinciding with a period of poetical constipation. 1966New Statesman 25 Mar. 411/2 There are signs that the electoral constipation in the West Midlands is easing slightly. |